New York Spotlight: The Rogues - You Better Look Now

The New York Spotlight continues!

Today's song comes from The Rogues out of Buffalo. The Rogues were James Pierotti on vocals, Michael Spriggs on lead guitar, Dave Smith on rhythm guitar, Robert Radel on bass and Gary Jaros on drums. They had a big following in the area and even had their own nightclub, The Rogues Gallery, which apparently would book them quite regularly. The guys released at least two, some say three, singles and we're gonna have a listen to the flip-side of their first single, You Better Look Now written by James, Michael and Robert and, like a previous New York Spotlight feature, was released on Audition. Frankly, it's among the finest examples of a garage pop ballad out there. It's really well- crafted with a lovely jangly reverby sound and a great little guitar solo to boot, but it's the sincere lyrics delivered soulfully over a perfect melody that drives it home. I also dig how the refrain seems to appear out of nowhere not to be seen or heard from again. It must have been tempting to throw it in again after every verse, but they didn't, and the result is perfection. Thanks guys! The A-side is an awesome version of Train Kept-a-Rollin too.

Like many, I first heard this song as performed by The Chesterfield Kings in the mid '80s and you can read more about it here.

The Rogues have a facebook page where our photos were found. Flower Bomb Songs has a bunch of fan photos too.

See you on the Flip-Side!

New York Spotlight: The Jagged Edge - You Can't Keep A Good Man Down / How She's Hurtin Me

Day six of our New York Spotlight. Brooklyn artists The Jagged Edge released today's great double-sider in April of 1966 on Gallant Records. According to at least one source it gets some traction in the greater metropolitan area with You Can't Keep A Good Man Down. And really, what young man rejected by his soul mate doesn't want to glue his broken self together via this tale of personal triumph over girl adversity? The very act of listening to this will help you re-write the script of your teenhood lost love to include this line: "Her love is cheaper by the pound!" Be sure to not miss out on the guitar harmonics at the end - that's a garage rarity.

Move to the flip-side and you get the slightly moodier and byrdsier How She's Hurtin Me. This one starts off with a jazzy bass and drums that calls to mind Horace Silver (anyone?) before it enters the song proper, only to exit with the same arrangement. It betrays some more great songwriting by rhythm guitarist Drew Georgopulis who also takes credit for side A. Other members of this young outfit include Elliot Ingber on vocals, Art Steinman on lead guitar, Harley Wishner on bass and Kenney Bennett on Drums. They recorded one more very cool single on Jubilee as the Offset a few months later.

An informative interview with Steinman and Wishner over at Flower Bomb Songs can be found here.

Until next time, see you on the Flip-Side!